A little over a year ago when the Mother Brook Art and Community Center (MBACC) opened its doors, 15 artists inhabited the studios in a building still undergoing renovations.

Today, 35 artists and the Dedham School of Music are tenants, according to executive director Jean Forb-Webb, filling the old Avery Schoolhouse with artisans ranging from sculptors, a kite maker, and ceramic artists, to a silversmith, theater people, and a number of painters.

It has been a busy time at the MBACC with an art exhibit attended by over 350 people held there, an open studio where the public came in to watch the artists work and ongoing classes on jewelry making, painting, ceramics, and sewing.

"The artisans really have been a phenomenal group," Forb-Webb said.

Next up is an art exhibit on Aug. 15 about the evolution of graffiti art with 13 artists and Forb-Webb said the Boston Symphony Orchestra has chosen the MBACC to host one of its community chamber concerts on Nov. 16.

Quilter Iris Sonnenschein, a former Dedham resident who lives in Brookline, was one of the first artists to move into the MBACC.

"The rooms are gorgeous. I loved the idea of not being in a separate studio but being in an area with other artists," Sonnenschein said.

She said although she is a quilter she appreciates other artistsí work. She uses the other artists to bounce ideas off of and also to observe their work for ideas to incorporate into her work.

"Itís just another pair of eyes who understand what I try to do," Sonnenschein said. "I talk to other artists all the time."

The programs and artisans are just what Rep. Paul McMurtry, D-Dedham, was hoping for when a year ago he called the arts center a part of Dedhamís renaissance. He recently secured $200,000 in state funding for the center.

"The citizens of the Commonwealth, including many of us who live in Dedham, value and cherish the arts, culture and humanities," McMurtry said. "This funding will allow both children and adults to learn, enjoy, and appreciate meaningful and creative opportunities and experiences. I was pleased to partner with my colleague Senator Rush in our effort to deliver a substantial gesture of financial support to MBACC."

In addition to the state funding, Ford-Webb said the center received a Massachusetts Cultural Council matching grant of $210,000, of which the MBACC has raised $145,000 of the match. Blue Hills Bank has given money for new front doors and gallery lighting and Dedham Savings Bank has given money for fixtures and building materials for two new handicap accessible bathrooms.

"Itís wonderful to have the confidence of the state behind us," Ford-Webb said. "The banks say they believe in us and the community says the same thing."

Page 2 of 2 - Ford-Webb said for the future she would like to see the MBACC have additional classes, a cafť, trails leading to the Mother Brook, sculptures along the way and a viewing deck.

She said the building also needs electrical upgrades, an elevator and a general face-lift in a lot of ways. The estimated cost of all those projects is $5 million over the next five years, according to Forb-Webb.

"We need to improve the building a bit before it becomes a great venue," Forb-Webb said.